Confession: Episode 1

There’s an air of mystery permeating the show, and it’s fueled by enigmatic characters all hiding their intentions. While events may seem straightforward at first, the show adds small twists which forces the viewers to reevaluate a character’s motivation and behavior. At the center of this tale is a smart attorney who overcomes barriers and fights for his clients… but is that truly who he is?

Note: This is just a first episode recap.

EPISODE 1 RECAP

An inmate receives a visitor request but refuses to go, asking the guard to pass along a message: “Don’t come back.” The rejected visitor is his son CHOI DO-HYUN (Junho).

As heavy snow falls down on a construction site, a construction worker suddenly shouts in fright at the sight of a dead woman inside a sack. The police arrive at the crime scene and find the victim’s clothes burned in a barrel along with a broken bottle. The only thing left unscathed is a purse found away from the rest of the items.

The chief of the violent crimes unit in charge of the case is Detective KI CHOON-HO (Yoo Jae-myung), and he sits lost in thought as the rest of his team grumble at the news report criticizing the police’s lack of progress on the murder case. Despite fifteen days passing, the detectives still have no leads and impatiently wait for the forensic report.

As Choon-ho decides to ask about the results in person, their division receives a call, and all the detectives anxiously hover by the phone. However, the caller is a young man who taunts them for their sluggish pace and inability to catch him. It’s already the fourth call they received from the presumed murderer, and their patience wears thin.

Luckily for the team, the next caller is from the forensic department bearing good news. The fingerprints found on the bag belong to a man named Han Jong-gu, and from the suspect’s age and birth year, it seems the current timeline is around 2014.

The detectives swarm Jong-gu’s home, but he’s outside and notices the officers first. This gives him a head start, but the detectives quickly chase after him. As the chase leads them down a narrow alley, Choon-ho comes flying out from a side path and tackles Jong-gu to the ground, successfully apprehending him.

As the new attorney at the law firm on his probationary period, Do-hyun sits at the end of a table and quickly bolts up when the head of the law firm asks him about his new case. He’s just been appointed as the public defender for the recent construction murder suspect which sends a ripple of murmurs down the room.

During the first trial, Do-hyun states the defendant’s admission of guilt to all charges, but Jong-gu shoots up from his chair and professes his innocence. Due to their conflicting statements, the judge grants Do-hyun more time to settle matters with the defendant, so they adjourn for the day.

Do-hyun meets one-on-one with Jong-gu who claims to have been pressured into signing the confession during the police interrogation. Do-hyun refuses to accept his words at face value and asks him to tell him the truth so he can believe.

Jong-gu recounts the evening of the incident and tells Do-hyun that in his drunkenness, he stopped by the construction site to relieve himself and happened to find the purse on the ground. He admits to stealing the cash inside, but that’s it. Do-hyun wonders why he called the police on multiple occasions then, and Jong-gu confesses to prank calling the police because they seemed so pathetic.

Armed with a different account of the story, Do-hyun visits the crime scene despite his superiors’ ridicules, and once he’s gone, they talk about how he placed first in the exams but can’t be a judge because of his father who’s on death row. At the site, a worker stumbles across Do-hyun fumbling with the door, and after hearing that he’s the attorney, he tells Do-hyun that Jong-gu easily opened the sliding doors during the reenactment which surprised everyone.

Do-hyun stops by Jong-gu’s workplace next, and the guard on duty recognizes Jong-gu, even remembering that a group of detectives came asking about him before. He shows Do-hyun around and slides open a door, much like the one at the construction site.

The trial resumes, and Choon-ho sits on the witness stand. He tells the prosecutor the three pieces of evidence that pointed at Jong-gu as the murderer: 1) his fingerprints found on the victim’s purse, 2) the phone calls made to the police, and 3) his reenactment where he opened the door without hassle.

Do-hyun cross-examines Choon-ho and puts up a photo of Jong-gu’s workplace. According to the guard, Choon-ho and his team came by and after noticing the sliding doors, expressed disappointment. Do-hyun deduces from their reaction that they must have realized their circumstantial evidence was now null. As for the evidence concerning the purse, Do-hyun points out how far it was found in relation to the body.

The next witness is the forensic scientist, and Do-hyun asks him if Jong-gu’s fingerprints were found anywhere else at the crime scene besides the purse. Since everything, including the suspected murder weapon, was burned, no other fingerprints were found, and Do-hyun points out how odd it is that the purse with the fingerprints was left alone.

For his closing statement, Do-hyun calls into question all the evidence laid out by the prosecution and argues that none of them definitively prove Jong-gu is the murderer. He tells the judge that the defendant admits to stealing money and prank calling the police for which he feels remorse, but as for murder, he believes the suspect should be found not guilty.

Choon-ho returns to the station, and the rest of his team fret over the case because if Jong-gu is let go, then the repercussions might fall on them. Their worries become reality when the judge declares Jong-gu not guilty of the murder charge, and in the crowd, the victim’s family cries in frustration.

The news relentlessly attacks the police for their poor investigation of the murder case, and Choon-ho packs up his things since he’s the designated scapegoat for this mess. Though the courts may believe Jong-gu is innocent, Choon-ho disagrees and confronts Do-hyun about letting the murderer go.

Do-hyun calmly tells Choon-ho that he merely did his duties as an attorney, but Choon-ho accuses him of never considering the pain of the victim’s family. He questions Do-hyun’s sense of justice, so Do-hyun retaliates, mentioning the fact that if Jong-gu truly is the murderer as he claims, then the blame should fall on the police for failing to prove his crimes.

Choon-ho brings his face inches to Do-hyun’s and warns him about Jong-gu, but Do-hyun remains expressionless. Choon-ho realizes the futility of his pleas and exasperatedly tells Do-hyun that it’s wrong for him to be able to release a murderer so easily with just a few words.

Five years later. Do-hyun sleeps inside his one-man law firm, but someone knocks incessantly at his door. He gets up to check on the noise and finds Journalist HA YOO-RI (Shin Hyun-bin) outside. He closes the door in her face, but she continues knocking until he lets her in.

Once inside, she plops down on the couch and fetches two beers from her bag to share. Do-hyun refuses since she’s already roaring drunk, but Yoo-ri bargains with him: if he figures out what she just did, then she’ll leave. As soon as she finishes her sentence, Do-hyun correctly guesses that she turned in her resignation letter. Though he tries to kick her out, Yoo-ri buries herself into his couch and falls asleep.

A woman in a yellow coat walks alone down the street when a stranger suddenly appears behind her. Sensing the presence, the woman hastens her pace, ending up in a run, and only stops for a brief moment to call the police. Before she can dial, the stranger attacks her from behind.

The woman in yellow is found dead the next morning, and the crime scene is so horrific it causes the officers to grimace and throw up. The detectives in charge of the new murder case is Choon-ho’s old team, and Detective Seo is the new chief.

Detective Seo talks with the forensic scientist who tells him that the murder happened recently but the amount of blood at the crime scene is strangely low. However, the more peculiar thing is how similar this case is to the one five years ago at the construction site, and the implication dawns on Detective Seo.

The violent crimes team investigates the murder and finds a familiar face caught on camera near the crime scene: Jong-gu. Moving fast, they barge into his home to arrest him and discover a pair of blood-splattered shoes hidden in a drawer.

The detectives interrogate Jong-gu back at the station and show him photos taken of him at the crime scene the morning after while the police were investigating. Jong-gu claims to have merely followed the crowd there and didn’t know about the murder. Detective Seo throws down photos of the victim and forces Jong-gu to look at them and remember the woman from five years ago.

While the interrogation remains fruitless, Detective Seo receives a call from Choon-ho who stops by unexpectedly. Detective Seo meets briefly with his old chief and happily informs him of Jong-gu’s arrest. Noticing how busy Detective Seo is, Choon-ho lets him go and doesn’t explain the reason for his sudden visit.

Yoo-ri packs up her desk, clearly stating her departure as a resignation and not a termination, but her senior doesn’t believe her. He wonders aloud about the recent murder case since the police have kept the suspect under wraps, and Yoo-ri looks at him curiously.

She ends up drunk and asleep on Do-hyun’s couch again, and is still there in the morning when he gets a call. A mysterious woman parks outside Do-hyun’s law firm, but when she enters the office, she only finds a snoring figure on the couch and mistakes it for Do-hyun. Glancing around the room, she notices garbage strewn everywhere.

Do-hyun meets with Jong-gu as his attorney and asks him what’s going on. Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor appoints Prosecutor Lee Ki-hyu to the case, and he just so happens to be from the same class as Do-hyun.

Jong-gu explains to Do-hyun that he was near the crime scene coincidentally, but Do-hyun seems skeptical. He asks Jong-gu if he thought he could escape this time, too, which riles Jong-gu. He wonders if this means Do-hyun always thought he was guilty but got him released regardless. Do-hyun denies saying such things, but Jong-gu presses him to answer truthfully. When he refuses, Jong-gu bangs on the table and glares at him menacingly.

The mysterious woman tidies up Do-hyun’s office and is surprised when Yoo-ri wakes up from the couch. She explains to Yoo-ri that she’s here for the job opening for office manager, but Yoo-ri tells her that the position is already filled because she’s just hired herself. Heh.

Yoo-ri comes up with excuses of how the mysterious woman might be too old for the position, but the mysterious woman, MADAME JIN (Nam Ki-ae), whips out her certificates and spews her knowledge of the law. Do-hyun arrives, confused by the scene in front of him, and Madame Jin repeats everything for a second time to show her qualifications.

Recognizing defeat, Yoo-ri congratulates Madame Jin on getting hired and looks forward to working together in the future. Do-hyun wonders who this us refers to, and Yoo-ri explains her plans to rent the empty desk in the corner for her one-person media company. Do-hyun sends Madame Jin away for now, and adding to the mystery, she gets into a car with a chauffeur.

Do-hyun works through the night and falls asleep at his desk. He wakes up when Madame Jin opens the curtains, and before he can register what’s happening, she cheerfully goes about her first task as his office manager. Do-hyun mumbles about never calling her and just sighs when he sees Yoo-ri sleeping on his couch for the third time in a row.

Do-hyun visits Prosecutor Lee’s office to get the case report, but Prosecutor Lee barely acknowledges his presence and throws the file on his desk rather than hand it to him. Ignoring Prosecutor Lee’s rude behavior, Do-hyun flips through the report, but crucial pieces of information are redacted.

He finds Detective Seo to fill in the missing parts, and even Detective Seo shakes his head at the cheap tactic used by the prosecution. He tells Do-hyun about the similarities between this case and the one from five years ago, but unlike last time, they have conclusive evidence against Jong-gu. However, that’s all Detective Seo will share with Do-hyun and tells him to figure out the rest on his own.

Yoo-ri installs a new lock for the office, and Do-hyun just accepts his fate rather than resist. While the rest of his team leave for the day, Do-hyun continues working, and remembering Detective Seo’s words, he brings out the case file from five years ago to compare with the current one. However, the current file has so little information that Do-hyun decides to investigate the crime scene in person.

Do-hyun makes his way to the dilapidated house, unaware of someone following him. After examining the eerie crime scene, Do-hyun leaves, and Choon-ho emerges from the shadows, watching Do-hyun the entire time.

Do-hyun takes a taxi and shuts his eyes in exhaustion. When he wakes up from his nap, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. The taxi stands idly in the middle of an intersection, and not a soul can be seen in any direction.

He asks the taxi driver where they are, but the driver remains tight lipped. Suddenly, a truck blares its horn and blinds him with its headlights. As Do-hyun turns his head, the truck rams into the taxi and sends it spiraling in the air.

COMMENTS

The show starts off with a horrendous murder, and as Do-hyun digs deeper, it seems like a case of police misconduct and an obstruction of justice as an innocent man is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. However, as the story unfolds, it seems that the initial interpretation of the case may have been wrong. The thing I found most fascinating, though, was Do-hyun’s reactions (or lack of) throughout all these events. He doesn’t express a lot of emotions and only shows subtle differences across his face. Even when he wakes up in a deserted intersection with a truck barreling towards him, his reaction is subdued in relation to the magnitude of the situation. There are also moments when Do-hyun looks almost sinister, and it’s hard to pinpoint him as a character. Though he’s the hero, he doesn’t portray a lot of the stereotypical hero qualities usually associated with attorneys in dramas.

One particularly odd moment from Do-hyun was his expression when Jong-gu was announced not guilty by the judge. One would expect him to be happy or at least content since he saved an innocent man’s life, but he looks grave, instead. Then during Do-hyun’s second meeting with Jong-gu, he says, “again,” which may imply that he thought Jong-gu was the culprit the first time around and may explain his reaction back then. However, this only raises more questions about Do-hyun and the intentions behind his actions. Is he truly a man who is okay with letting a murderer go free, and if he is, what does this say about his character?

With that question, though, is the larger question of whether Jong-gu really is the culprit. Everything points to him being the murderer, and so many characters seem convinced that Jong-gu is guilty. Personally, it seems that the logic behind Choon-ho and the detectives’ conviction is based more on instinct than logic which, frankly, can be dangerous since it could easily cloud their judgment. However, it’s only the first episode, so I suspect there will be more secrets as the plot moves forward.

In addition to Do-hyun, all the characters are shrouded in mystery to some degree. Choon-ho’s sudden visit to Detective Seo and his stalking of Do-hyun hint at something brewing in the distance, and I can’t tell if he’ll be friend or foe. As for the two female characters introduced in the episode, Yoo-ri feels like a strange ray of sunshine who brings out a different side of Do-hyun, but her past and future role are just as murky as everyone else. Madame Jin is also a huge question mark, and I wonder why she suddenly appeared since she’s clearly overqualified and doesn’t need the job at Do-hyun’s tiny firm. The show barely scratches the surface in this first hour which keeps the characters at a distance from the viewers, but in exchange, it raises a lot of questions and piques one’s curiosity. Overall, it’s an interesting introduction that ends with a bang (quite literally).

March 25, 2019 at 8:06 PM

Junho oppaaaaaaaaa!!!!! This gon' be your last project before you enlist, ain't it?? If it is, I at least hope that it'll be dealt with better than how the situation was for Yoon Do Joon (although, I know that he also didn't expect things to turn out like that), and filming won't have to be rushed for you (a la Lee Jong Suk) and that you will be able to rest and recharge after this project and before you officially enlist

March 25, 2019 at 8:24 PM

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Thank you for the recap!! It’s official, i’m torturing myself for the next 8 weeks waiting for this show to air.
Watching Confession is like watching movies and I strangely got similar vibes with Forest of Secrets. The acting is great and glad there is no black hole so far.

March 25, 2019 at 9:02 PM

March 25, 2019 at 10:14 PM

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Doesn't seem like it. I'm guessing the guy is really the murderer in the first case, but someone's trying to frame him for the 2nd one. This feels like just the tip of a larger iceberg to me. Also, there's DH's dad who's def coming into the picture at one point. I enjoyed the feel of the episode. It's not a bad setup for an intro.

March 26, 2019 at 8:48 PM

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I think the first case is to put the TEAM together to ultimately go and exonerate his father ... We have the media reporter, the grumpy old detective, the mysterious good at everything office manger to go with the lawyer suffering from ToD nightmares - if that’s not a kdrama crime solving team, I don’t know what is!

March 25, 2019 at 8:56 PM

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Looks like a pretty typical police/lawyer/mystery show. They'll tease conspiracies and keep us wondering if the suspect is really the one until we give up in disgust and change channels. I really don't mean "bad", just "typical" -- if this were the first one of these I had ever seen I would be ok with it.

March 25, 2019 at 9:28 PM

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I love how CDH seems to be a gray character with many layers yet to be peeled. Although he seems unaffected and just reacts mildly to his surroundings, he seems to carry so much inside and feels like one day he could explode if it becomes too much. He has a lot of determination and conviction in what he sets out to do, but isn't the brash righteous hotheaded hero that often annoys me. He also seems to be a bit of a pushover with his longtime friend and the newly hired Madam Jin thus we know he isn't entirely unfeeling.

I hope more also starts to get revealed with Ki Choon Ho but I already figured he will become a big part of this investigation, so then my fingers are crossed for more depth to the ex-reporter friend whose liveliness and cheerfulness seems to scream and pop out akwardly for me when every other character including our hero seems to be so subdued and gloomy.

I absolutely love the bgm. Although it appears to be a much slower first episode, I was surprised when we already came to the end. A compelling and intriguing opening to this series.

March 25, 2019 at 11:33 PM

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That ending though lol. Def made me wait for the 2nd episode. CDH doesn't really come off as cold to me so much as a very reserved person. So it's nice to see his dynamic with the 2 ladies who pushes him out of his shell with their brazen attitudes. I don't think it's that he doesn't care that he let a murderer go free, but JG unwittingly preyed on his weakness by talking about getting the death penalty without a fair trial. The way he conducts his own investigations let us know that he doesn't really trust the police. Also why is he a one-man law firm 5 years later? What made him leave a big shot law firm? I think the first ep did a great job planting these little mysteries.

March 26, 2019 at 1:50 AM

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Thanks @lovepark for a first episode recap. That's good enough for us who now have a place to hang out and to analyse and discuss the show.

The show strikes me as interesting because something about it feels different. It could be, as you describe it, the lack of reaction in the lead. There's so much to discover about the goings-on in the minds of all characters, with hints of hidden agendas or conspiracies. These and good, ol' (young) Jun Ho still looking as great as ever, are enough to keep me coming back for more.

I'm hoping for some bromance with Det Ki Choon Ho and unexpected machinations from Mdm Jin. The tension between Mdm Jin and Yoo Ri will be intriguing as well. I kind of wish Yoo Ri was not such an intrusive sort of friend, but at least she shows up Do Hyun's pliable side. It's cute that he haplessly and without his permission ends up with 2 females in his one-man-run office.

On the lot of lawyers. I do think it's hard for them when a Defence is needed for the defendant, whether or not he is guilty. The lawyer has the responsibility to do his best to keep the defendant from being unfairly punished, while not knowing if said defendant is guilty or not. I felt that he did his best as he was bound to do, by his role, and should not be maligned for it. The only way out for him, if he believed the defendant guilty, was to abdicate his duties by not offering a proper defence, or choosing to pass the job to some other lawyer, which as a probationary lawyer, he was probably not in a position to do. 😃

March 26, 2019 at 2:01 AM

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There is so much we don’t know yet, it feels like there is a long distance to cross over unguessable territory. Sometimes that would make me wary as a viewer, but with this cast, this writer and this PD, it only makes me more excited for what’s in store.

March 26, 2019 at 3:44 AM

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I thought "Confession" was going to be like the other dramatic legal dramas with the protagonist being portrayed as an underdog who protects the weak or an anti-hero resorting immoral tactics, so a "grey" hero was a pleasant surprise. I also like how we aren't constantly shown most of the intentions and just let us zoom into the story on our own, rather than saturate us with countless details.
I don't know but the show is giving me "Forest of Secrets" vibes (another unique take on investigative/anti-corruption dramas) because of the dimmed color palette, mystery tone, the "we-all-hide-secrets" characters, oh and Yoo Jaemyung is in here too lol

March 26, 2019 at 5:03 AM

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I lovvvve it, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people get mad at defense attorneys for doing their job. Their job is to defend their client to the best of their ability. It is not his fault he defended his client better than the prosecutor prosecuted his suspect. Ahhh Junho, so fantastic in every role. This show started off with a bang and I look forward to the rest of it!!!! Cheers

May 11, 2019 at 7:28 PM

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Why blame the defence attorney when you did a half-hearted investigation and charged somebody just because of external pressure to get progress? They were relying entirely on the Confession (mic drop), which they got by browbeating him. We see it with the second murder later - them arresting somebody and just getting them in a room and going, "You did it, didn't you? Admit you did it. You definitely did it. Admit it!"

I'm not saying they're not guilty but if they were planning a double jeopardy defence then the police made it damn easy.

March 26, 2019 at 7:00 AM

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Our hero is probably so wounded and jaded by his dad being on death row that nothing surprises him. So far, none of these characters are grating on me. No one is overly cute or overly feral. I'm liking the realism. I love the actress who plays Mrs Jin. She's one of my faves. Am not sure who she is avenging or trying to punish but i love seeing her there. Her supposedly being an older woman returning to the job world made me think of Bonus Book and i was kinda annoyed when she might have been turned away because of her age. But then....ah me, a rich lady who is getting spying done on her lonesome. She apparently doesn't trust folks enough to have an henchmen or minions. She and our hero should make a great match thematically if the writer does things right.

March 27, 2019 at 11:24 AM

Nam Ki-ae has been growing on me of late. I first saw her play Park Do-kyung's horrid, screeching mom in ANOTHER OH HAE-YOUNG AGAIN -- a character I abhorred. She was great at it, but at the same time, depressingly abusive and parasitic. I've seen her in other roles since, and am enjoying her turn HAECHI, which is the first time I'm seeing her in a sageuk. I'm enjoying that performance, too.

Madame Jin is an enigma. (I wonder if she's married to a neurosurgeon?) She gets chauffeured to work to get paid what I assume are peanuts. Might she have been involved in her young boss's father's case? But if that is so, I expect that he would recognize her. (Unless, perhaps, she works for the defense lawyer who unsuccessfully represented Dad -- who may be sending her off to help sonny reopen the case with new evidence that exonerates the convict.) She sure can quote the law chapter and verse, and in such a perky way.

March 28, 2019 at 8:12 PM

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@scifiwritir@pakalanapikake
When I was doing a re-watch of Ep 1, I noticed how Mdm Jin stiffened and paused without turning around straightaway when Do Hyun entered the office and met her for the first time. She took a beat before turning around with a sunny smile to sell herself and to promptly take the job, (as if she knew there would be no other candidates!).

She has her own agenda but on the whole seems to be working towards the good and not evil.

Having a much more senior and competent person getting a job (without fudging her credentials and abilities) is refreshing after the hard time Dan-I had in Romance is a Bonus Book!

March 28, 2019 at 9:08 PM

When I was doing a re-watch of Ep 1, I noticed how Mdm Jin stiffened and paused without turning around straightaway when Do Hyun entered the office and met her for the first time.

I spotted that slight hesitation, too, which is what made me wonder what she is up to. Perhaps she knows about him indirectly, and has now finally met him in person.

Here's an intriguing thought: perhaps Madame Jin is a relative of his heart donor. (Have I said this before? I'm getting a feeling of deja vu.)

Orrrr -- Do-hyun has a doozy of a birth secret, and Madame Jin is really his long-lost mommy who gave him up for adoption when he was an infant and she was a struggling law student. She's now a hotshot lawyer and tracked him down -- and is now poised to help clear his adoptive father's name. ;-)

Seriously, though, another possible reading of her hesitation: Perhaps she is out to subvert him or one of his cases. (Of her own free will, or because she's being forced by a Big Bad?) Now that she's finally meeting him after observing his spartan one-person office, she may be having pangs of conscience.

March 28, 2019 at 10:16 PM

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LOL! Yes let's just let our imaginations run wild. That's the best thing in the beginning of a show with all the mysteries awaiting revelation. Then we can laugh at how far off we are or gasp that we are right!!!

I had the same idea about being related to the heart donor. Since the heart transplant thing came up in this thread, I've been playing around with that thought. She could simply be concerned that the heart of her dear one is beating in the chest of a good guy or something like that. 😆 But she definitely came on purpose to be near Do Hyun, whether for good or ill is not yet certain. I'm veering towards the good however, for now.

The 2 females trying one-up-womanship against each other is cute. I can't imagine Mdm Jin getting away with too much if Yoo Ri is around.

March 30, 2019 at 8:15 PM

Ah, I've been having the same issues with my notifications not bringing me to the associated posts.

Handy Tip: (1) Hover your pointer over the right end of the notification before clicking on it, and you'll see the permalink # for it.
(2) Click on the notification.
(3) Then look around for the nearest comment by the poster named in the notification that matches the permalink #. It might help you narrow down the field.

DR. JIN is the Korean remake of a time-slip Jdorama set in the 1860s. Song Seung-heon played the title neurosurgeon who has a weird brain-tumorish growth resembling a fetus made of gummi. His name sounds like "hand towel" (sohn soo gun), which has been used by some to describe his acting -- although he really hit his stride in BLACK. [http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/12/jb-and-gf-face-off-battle-of-delusional-hopes/ ]

As for DR. JIN, it was badly written and directed. I enjoyed the good doctor's MCGYVER-meets-Rube Goldberg medical devices. It was my first sageuk, and miraculously did not scare me away from Kdramas. I have some kind of irrational soft spot for the show.

HeadsNo2 outdid herself on the recaps, which are snarkily hilarious. I didn't know about them at the time I watched the show. Now I see that, historically, it's almost a prequel to MR. SUNSHINE.

March 26, 2019 at 9:07 AM

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I love how realistic everyone acts- for a drama, at least. I'm so intrigued by the older lady; wonder what kind of background/past she has. And if she's related to do hyun's father's case in any way.
In terms of acting, Junho continues to impress. Comedy, melo, thriller/mystery- on top of versatility, he's so wonderfully nuanced and his vocalization(?) is great. Not that there aren't other good idol-actors, but he's a step above the rest.

March 27, 2019 at 12:06 AM

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Thank you for recapping the first episode of CONFESSION, @lovepark! I'd say the show got off to a good start. The pacing is good, I could follow the plot easily, and it engaged my curiosity because of the odd little mysteries hanging in the air. I like what I've seen so far.

I got the impression that probationary lawyer Choi Do-hyun was not fully convinced of his client's innocence, especially when he met him for the second murder case. Did the accused play him from the get-go? I'm not sure. But I cannot fault him for vigorously defending him. The prosecution's case was lame and relied on flimsy (or at least easily-invalidated) circumstantial evidence. I couldn't figure out why it went to trial when the police investigators' hand was so unconvincing. Perhaps in bowing to public pressure they shot themselves in the foot. The prosecution did a lousy job and deserved to lose. If the defendant truly did murder the victim, shame on the prosecution for botching the case.

My mind is a little boggled as I'm currently watching Nam Ki-ae portray the Queen Dowager in HAECHI. Seeing Madame Jin arrive in a chauffeured sedan made me really wonder what she's up to. Is she a lawyer herself who is conducting surveillance? Might she have something to do with his father's case?

The episode ended with a bang. I'm feeling a bit traumatized after seeing another Dump Truck Of Doom T-bone a prison transport bus on DOCTOR PRISONER. Yikes!

I'm mainly tuning in for Junho, who looked nice and professional in court. He's playing Do-hyun as restrained and low-key, which is apropos for someone who had been so seriously ill for so long, and then was confronted with his father's conviction for murder. It's hard to get a handle on what he's thinking -- and I plan to stick around to find out.

March 27, 2019 at 8:21 PM

March 27, 2019 at 8:37 PM

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@pakalanapikake,
Finally got to episode 1 tonight and really enjoyed it. Junho and Yoo Jae-myung have become favorites. I like the pace and there is plenty left dangling. Korean Court proceedings I often find a stretch. It seems like within weeks of an arrest there is a trial and the Defense Attorney hasn't spoken to his client until the day of the trial.
Thanks for reminding me about Nam Gi-ae also appearing in HAECHI. She must be running between sets like TOD and DP.
I am slightly annoyed with Yoo-ri. Ordering the lock changed and she gets to set the pass code? I have a feeling YR will become Attorney Choi's gumshoe putting her investigating reporting experience to use. I am holding off going further into the comments until I watch episode 2.

March 27, 2019 at 8:53 PM

Nam Ki-ae's flitting between sets reminds me of Seo Yi-sook simultaneously appearing in THE KING'S DAUGHTER, SU BAEK HYANG as the neighbor who was bumped off relatively quickly and as a Court Lady Seo (har!) in EMPRESS KI. I didn't watch the latter, but I recall other viewers commenting on it over on Soompi.

Thanks for mentioning Yoo-ri's taking it upon herself to install an electronic door lock for the office. Yep, that irritated me a lot, too. And yes, I can see her doing the gumshoe bit.

Somewhere in these comments someone mentioned that Do-hyun knows Yoo-ri from his time in the hospital, so perhaps that explains why he puts up with her BS. Maybe she really is like a PITA sibling after all.

Episode 2 was good, and really drew me into the story. I'll sign off for now lest I spill any beans. ;-)

March 27, 2019 at 5:48 AM

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It's interesting that we're getting a morally grey character for once. Although I understand that KJH probably has Impeccable instincts, that still didn't change the fact that the police did a shoddy investigation. It kind of annoyed me when he preyed on CDH' s guilty conscience bc he was a lawyer who did his job. DH was right, if the police didn't rush their investigation and actually looked for proper evidence then it wouldn't have been so easy for him to poke holes through their case. It's not CDH's job to prove that his client is guilty.

I finally caught the 2nd episode today, and I'm absolutely sold now. I didn't think this was how the concept of double jeopardy was going to come into play, but it was great and is a great setup for more sinister things to come. Also, can't wait for the back story to flesh out. These little clues and insights into DH's past has been quite intriguing. I hope db will decide to recap the rest of the series.

March 27, 2019 at 9:30 AM

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@almond What you've said is exactly what we've been saying/thinking about Det Ki and Do Hyun. As a seasoned Det, Ki should have known better, 5 years before, than to push the process without proper evidence to back himself up, or at least by now, he should be chasing the prosecution and not the defence lawyer.

March 27, 2019 at 11:36 AM

It occurs to me that Detective Ki could have been thrown under the bus because the real killer has friends in high places -- as had been posited about Jack The Ripper. Stirring up netizen anger to pressure the police to rush the investigation may have been a ploy to distract from dirty doings in the Prosecutor's Office or among the police brass.

I agree that this is a dandy and unforeseen application of double jeopardy. I like it. ;-)

March 27, 2019 at 6:54 PM

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@pakalanapikake I'd be inclined to agree on high-placed friends where Jong Gu is not the real killer from 5-years ago. We do have another killer on the loose after all ... but am trying to figure out how that ties in. Killer can't be waiting for Jong Gu to come out of prison in order to commit the murders (again?). That's a pretty long wait for a serial killer.

The murders however seem more likely to be the job of 2 different people. So again, not likely that killer of 2019 is killer of 5 years ago and needing high-placed protection.

So far there's not been a whiff of Jong Gu himself, having any friends, at any height level, so he's being 'protected' by someone is also unlikely.

March 27, 2019 at 7:48 PM

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Yeah, at this point Idt it's a copycat killer. But more like someone who committed murder and conveniently hv friends in high places who knows where to find a scapegoat. I suspect that JongGu might hv killed his mother too, and hopefully that can be used later to finally put him in jail for his crimes.

I read from the Character description that Yoori was Dohyun's friend from his days in the hospital. Apparently her dad was also suffering from heart disease. I'm wondering if there's anything that happened that made her an alcoholic. I can't wait to see their back stories come to light..

March 28, 2019 at 11:32 AM

@pakalanapikake On my slow re-watch of the episodes, I feel that you've got something here. There was a chaebol looking man in the car and the 'secretary' who followed Ex BF of Kim Sun Hee with him.

So there's a conspiracy to get Jong Gu indicted for a crime he did not commit, so soon after he walks out of jail.

Planted evidence, interference with the ex-BF witness, choice of victim and location for the murder, choice of method to be a copy of the past killing.... Kim Sun Hee may have been killed merely to meet the criteria to put Jong Gu away again.

Or she may have been the real target and Jong Gu was the one chosen to take the blame. A bigger and longer game is at play.

March 28, 2019 at 6:00 PM

You may have hit upon a motive for Kim Sun-hee's murder: she may have heard or seen someone she shouldn't have while at work. Or perhaps was someone's mistress and had to be permanently silenced. Or she may have been made an example of in order to cow certain other parties into staying in line.

Another thought that occurred to me: Could she have been killed before the alleged murderer had been released from jail?

Here's hoping Do-hyun starts thinking about who would benefit most from the victim's death instead of trying to cook up a motive for Jong-gu to bump her off.

Minor Spoilers
Minor Spoilers
I absolutely love that show has come up with the most ironic of solutions to getting defendant off the hook. Now I'm dying to know if defendant is going to play along or sink for the crime that he did not commit.

My only unfulfilled wish so far is that we're not given very much about what Do Hyun is thinking. We can see that he's thinking and that he starts to take action, but show has not given us the insight into his train of thought. I guess one of the fun things will be guessing what he'll do next. That's why I want a bromance with Do Hyun talking things out now and then.

As for everything else:
- I'm liking that Det Ki is unofficially on the case, although I wish he'd not make it Do Hyun's responsibility to find Jong Gu guilty of the first crime. It is really the Prosecutor's responsibility. But hey, at least he is talking to Do Hyun.
- I want to see more of the female antics in the office. I like that Mdm Jin is super competent and is contributing to the case and that Yoo Ri is taking an active role in helping with the investigation, albeit in a small way.
- And we get just a little clue to more of Do Hyun's past. I hope show cranks this up a bit.

As for the continuing puzzles: why doe Do Hyun have ToD dreams, what evidence does Det Ki have, were there more crimes before the death of Ae Ran 5 years' previously and where's the mother of Jong Gu. From past shows on serial killers with a fetish against women, it's usually their mother they are trying to kill over and over again, and I'm expecting something similar here.

March 27, 2019 at 7:27 AM

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Episode 2 shows that Do Hyun is more capable of human emotion than we thought he is, shown by his interaction with Yoo-ri, madame Jin, and the detective he bribed.

Based on what he said to Jong Gu in ep 2 (“again”), I think it explains his grim expression when he won the case in ep 1. It was like he wanted the prosecutor and detective to give more opposition to prove Jong Gu is guilty. Maybe a part of him believed Jong Gu is guilty and he wanted to be defeated to prove Jong Gu is the murderer. That’s why I don’t like it when Detective Ki blamed Do Hyun and told him to find solution. Do Hyun clearly told him that he merely did his job it’s the detectives responsibility to turn in significant evidences.

I did not expect the double jeopardy law to be mentioned this soon, but i’m glad with the show’s fast pace and the curiosity that’s built up because basically we knew almost nothing about everyone’s past.

March 27, 2019 at 7:38 AM

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[SPOILERS REMOVED]

Actually think Do Hyun seems so jaded and comes across as unaffected, and yet there's a pureness to him, an unapologetic approach and steadfastness that seems to rubs his opponents the wrong way. Maybe it's this trait that makes Det Ki so focused on him and trying to compell him to do the right thing, as well as of course DH was the lawyer that got the suspect off the first time. Or maybe I'm looking too much into it.

I've seen a few comments elsewhere exasperated with the ex-reporter friend Yu-ri, but I love the energy and spunk she brings to the drama, as well as her synergy with Do Hyun. She alluded to the fact that she assisted him at a time when he needed help just to use the bathroom (not an exact quote) so she was probably one of the only other people there for DH when he was recovering after his father was put away. It seemed like a throwaway line but was most likely foreshadowing that they will dig deeper into their friendship and histories together.

I love Madam Jin right now, even if she is a mystery. I thought she would cause trouble at first, but she proved to be a big help to DH and as a viewer I'm appreciative that he has her on his side for now. I'm looking forward to her story and how she is connected to the bigger picture as well.

About the title of the drama COnfession and this introductory case in the first two episodes, I really like how it focuses on not a cat and mouse chase on a big villain suspect (so far, as it could turn out to be that way when DH tries to find the people who allegedly framed his father) but about the sway in the courtroom, connecting evidence, and trying to get a confession or verdict.

Honestly, one small thing I'm disappointed about is the ToD and dreams. It's a drama cliche that memories and feelings are transported through organs and I feel like that is the case here...

March 27, 2019 at 11:33 PM

It hadn't occurred to me that the TOD nightmare could have to do with with Do-hyun's heart donor. That makes a lot of sense, cliche or not.

And thanks for the reminder of that cryptic line about his needing assistance to get to the bathroom. That fits with their crossing paths at the hospital, which I only recently found out about. For all we know, her dad could have adopted him as an honorary family member if they hit it off well. Maybe something like that.

March 28, 2019 at 1:44 AM

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@growingbeautifully,
Yoo-ri says it to Do-hyun while bantering in his office, I think during daylight hours (i.e., not when she shows up drunk in the middle of the night and conks out on his couch) -- but I cannot recall whether it's before or after Madame Jin arrives on the scene. Hope that helps. ;-)

March 28, 2019 at 8:29 PM

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@marcusnyc20 I'm thinking there's a link between heart donor and Mdm Jin. Like maybe it was Mdm Jin's son who died and his heart is in Do Hyun. Maybe she knows that Do Hyun is getting entangled in something big and she wants to be on the ground to see what's happening. Very out of this world speculation, but it just popped into my mind, so I'm putting it down for fun.

March 28, 2019 at 8:49 PM

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Likewise as @growingbeautifully thinks, my theory is that Madam Jin is related to the heart donor.

Thinking it will be a huge backstory with how Do Hyun received the heart, his father's involvement, and how he got incarcerated. All speculation of course, but Do Hyun seeing a flash of another man's face in the mirror I think is also a vision because of the heart, like TOD.

March 27, 2019 at 9:20 AM

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@kafiyah-bello On punishing Jong Gu ... I'm more for finding a non legal and yet not entirely unlawful way of making him pay for his crime. Maybe he ought to be forced to pay weekly visits his much hated mother (if she's still alive) Heh!

It's interesting that he has a big house but never goes home. It must be a place of 'torture' to him. Making him live there too might be some kind of punishment. However he's already too dangerous and likely to go off his rocker entirely if pushed, so ... probably a mental hospital for him??

March 27, 2019 at 9:51 AM

March 27, 2019 at 9:31 AM

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Finally found a site to watch Confession -wow. Normally I do NOT like courtroom dramas, they're just boring. This one is absolutely fascinating. Double jeopardy - what a good concept. And the music never lets up the emotion - danger and suspense. So many questions and mysteries always make for a good drama. Go, Junho, you're fabulous!

March 27, 2019 at 9:39 AM

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Hi Linda, @linda-palapala I thought you were watching already as you were commenting above. Also because you like Jun Ho (as I do too!).

I'm glad you find it fascinating. After getting killer off the hook, the next thing will be getting around the double jeopardy issue to punish him somehow. Then there's the case of the real killer to find, and of Do Hyun's dad to solve (my subs said that his father was on death row??), and Mdm Jin's appearance to explain. And all this with Jun Ho looking dashing. I'm so in. :-)

March 27, 2019 at 9:56 AM

March 27, 2019 at 9:57 AM

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Beware! Rampant Speculation!

@growingbeautifully,
I watched ep. 2 raw, and then with subtitles right after posting my comments on ep. 1, and got a kick out of the way the story is unfolding. I'm glad that our geeenius lawyer is conferring with his law school professor, who seems to be a criminal psychiatrist(?). He shed interesting light on the two murder scenes, and made me wonder if a copycat is involved, and if so, which came first.

Do-hyun's encounter with his cardiologist/heart surgeon made me wonder whether his Dump Truck O' Doom interludes might actually be related to surgical trauma, an actual accident in his past, or might be triggered by arrythmias when he is asleep. Aside from conking out at his desk because of exhaustion from working too late, might he be sitting up because it is sometimes easier to breathe in that position rather than lying down? (That was the case with my grandmother, who had congestive heart disease.)

Reporter Ha Yoo-ri rubbed me the wrong way with her drunken antics. If she wasn't getting any stories published, maybe she should have done a better job or moved on to a different publication (or profession). Perhaps she is destined to morph into an investigative reporter, but for the nonce, I'm not amused by her pestiferous wheedling. I do, however, have to give her credit for her resourcefulness in obtaining the CCTV footage. The fact that it threw the prosecution's time of death estimate into a cocked hat was a great wrinkle, and immediately made me wonder if the victim could have been frozen, not just refrigerated. (One indicator of freezing: red blood cells ruptured by ice crystals that form in the spaces between them.)

I became very suspicious when the victim's ex-boyfriend said, even after Do-hyun brought up the CCTV evidence, that he saw her the night before she died (which technically could have been five days or so earlier than the cops' estimate). Maybe because he's the one who killed her?

The ex-boyfriend's claim that loansharks are after him made me wonder about that guy with glasses who tailed him after he left his apartment following his "interview" with Do-hyun and Detective Ki. He later turned up in the courtroom. (Shoutout to Choi Dae-hoon as the dude in a suit who looks like a hitman -- or a lawyer. He played evil Mayor of Gisung An O-Joo's touchingly loyal-to-the-death henchman Seok Kwan-dong in LAWLESS ATTORNEY.)

I want to know more about Dad's case. Why doesn't he want to see Do-hyun? Did he take the fall for someone with the promise that his son would get the surgery he needed? -- And where is Mom?

March 27, 2019 at 10:12 AM

@pakalanapikake Ooooh, I like your rampant speculation about that heart surgery and Do Hyun's Dad's not wanting to see him. It could well be a right guess at this stage.

LOL that the man following victim's ex-bf looked like a hitman or lawyer. Hard to tell them apart. How he could mistake Do Hyun for a loanshark though!!!

I felt the same about Yoo Ri's barging in on Do Hyun despite his telling her to go and closing the door on her. I've never understood this kind of rude intrusive behaviour, except that it's a drama trope or some sort ... showing what? That the girl is irritating and cares not for boundaries between friends, but has spunk and determination? The latter may make her suitable as a reporter, the former does not make her a good friend.

March 27, 2019 at 10:48 AM

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@growingbeautifully,
I'm relieved to know that I'm not alone in my alienation by intrusive twerp "friends." I was going to chalk it up to my being an old crankypants, but since you're not one of those, I'm glad to have company who appreciates characters who exhibit respect for boundaries. I was equally peeved by the obnoxious female reporter in ARE YOU HUMAN TOO. Don't get me wrong -- there have been obnoxious male reporters in Kdramas, too. -- Oh, and inebriation was also involved -- which gives carte blanche to rude behavior, and apparently is an acceptable criminal defense for killing and maiming people.

Maybe we'll find out that Yoo-ri is Do-hyun's PITA cousin or childhood neighbor, or that she's loved him unrequitedly since kindergarten. (Spare me.)

If the ex-boyfriend ate at a certain Chinese restaurant owned by a loanshark with a heart of golden marshmallow -- and that featured exquisite black bean noodles served in the Shin Saimdang Room -- I can understand his mistaking Do-hyun for one of the collection agents, if not a virtuoso chef. ;-) Is it too much to hope for a Jang Hyuk cameo?! (Tip of the hat to WOK OF LOVE.)

March 27, 2019 at 11:35 AM

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Because of your Wok of Love reference I just had to say

Blew my mind to finally recognize that the jerk prosecutor that blacklisted Do Hyun is played by the same actor who was Seo Woo's ex in WOL. Like, I wouldn't mind a Jung Ryeo Won cameo to just come and randomly kimchi slap that prosecutor. :P

March 27, 2019 at 12:04 PM

Good catch! Lee Ki-hyuk looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place him. When I took a closer look at AsianWiki, I realized that I would have seen him in TEMPTATION OF WOLVES / ROMANCE OF THEIR OWN with Gang Dong-won. I love your idea for a Jung Ryeo-won drive-by kimchi-slapping. Or maybe she could ride up on Buster. ;-)

March 28, 2019 at 8:46 PM

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A couple of things,@pakalanapikake,
O/T but fyi that total (dis)credit to her profession vile Reporter Park Hee-young (wonderfully portrayed by Kim Seo--hyung) in CAHM was a unanimous inductee in 2018 into the Reporter's Section of the KDrama Hall of Fame of Villains; and@tofuetoffee kx,
I am also grateful for reminding us of Lee Ki-hyuk's WOL connection. (I had to google his WOL character to remember his part.)
I finished episode 2 and loving this drama.

March 27, 2019 at 10:32 AM

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About the friend ex-reporter, the actress said during one of their promotions (or maybe it was in the drama itself) that she wanted to cover an old story but her employer wouldn't publish her articles. I think she left because she was fed up with the censorship. It could be about her own trauma or Do Hyun's.

March 27, 2019 at 10:59 AM

Aha! Thank you for that background. So Yoo-ri is trying to cover an old story. Okay, that shows she's a "crocodile" herself, and has clamped onto a story that someone wants buried. So why not find another publisher? Or is there some Vast Chaebol Conspiracy?

March 27, 2019 at 11:11 AM

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I think that's why she was trying to start her own media platform in the corner of Do Hyun's office (to his dismay XD)

With the well-dressed stranger who followed the ex-bf and also appeared in the audience of the courtroom, as well as the old men in their cars plotting in the preview, I wouldn't count out some chaebol conspiracy.

March 27, 2019 at 6:50 PM

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@growingbeautifully No sorry i just phrased that wrong. Unless I'm mistaken, I think only the man who followed the ex-bf appeared in the audience of the 2nd case. I think he's connected to the chaebols though. It's linked somehow. We'll have to wait to find out! There may be clues and even throwaway lines that lead to something else that we may have missed.

March 28, 2019 at 10:30 PM

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@tofuetoffee kx, I've been trying hard to see if besides the promotions or interview, the show actually does tell us what Yoo Ri was trying to get published but never succeeded. So far not a whiff of whether it was an old story (saga of Do Hyun's father?) or something badly written or whatever article that couldn't pass muster.

I'd like to know if her failure at being published is also linked to the same or similar crimes.

And in the way of kdrama, I'm wondering if all the crimes and people are linked... like Do Hyun's father's 'crime' and current murders might be different ends of the same rope, and not to mention that Mdm Jin and Det Ki are also probably somehow linked to the past crimes.

March 29, 2019 at 4:08 AM

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Yes, me too. She doesn't have many scenes so I was afraid I was over thinking it when I tried to look deeper in everything she was doing. For example, when Do Hyun first asked her to check out the victim's house, she was absorbed in watching a video of a man holding a sign in front a building. Was wondering, is that man a reporter? Protesting? Is this video she watching important or no? Well, guess we will find out eventually. Saw new teaser pics of the actress in school uniform so excited that they'll explain her character and history with Do Hyun a bit.

March 27, 2019 at 11:01 AM

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Re Dump Truck O'Doom. It's a nightmare. In real life a nightmare is either an imaginary or real fear of some trauma that might or might not happen in the future. But who knows in a drama. In a drama it more than likely relates to some past event as per usual in most dramas.
I used to have a recurring nightmare that when I went back "home" to visit I couldn't get back to California. This week I had a nightmare that there was a bengal tiger in my home. He'd eaten all the rats and was now after my cats. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't complete a call to the animal police.

March 27, 2019 at 12:35 PM

I wanted to make a case for something besides the usual nightmares. The human mind works in mysterious ways, sometimes via images. I've never had open-heart surgery, but I imagine that being slit open from one's guggle to one's zatch (per James Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks) feels like being hit by a truck. Anesthesia itself can cause hallucinations, and memory issues, too. (When I was little, I broke my wrist, and had such bizarre dreams after getting it set that I stood up on my bed in the middle of the night and walked straight into the wall -- after talking in my sleep all night to Dad, who was crashed out nearby. I chalk it all up to a bad trip on laughing gas and whatever the ER administered by IV.)

When I was starting out as a disc jockey back in the days of LPs, I used to dream that the song was about to end as I feverishly rushed to cue up the next cut to avoid (Gasp! Horrors!) the dreaded Dead Air. After I had more experience under my belt, the nightmares ceased. -- Your bengal tiger trumps dead air any day! Yikes! And no way to reach animal control!!

March 27, 2019 at 1:10 PM

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Haven't you dreamed before you're trying to call someone with some thing very important and you keep mis-dialing?
Re bengal tiger: the real threat in this neighborhood is coyotes, so no clue why I didn't dream about coyotes.
Re my house: not my real house but a house I've made up in my mind for dreams, apparently. It's recurring too.
Yes I imagine open heart surgery after effects would seem like being hit by a mack truck. Who knows where they'll take this! So far they've done quite a good job with making things mysterious and hopefully, non-predictable.

March 27, 2019 at 1:54 PM

But when I was commuting to community college, I used to dream that I was driving up and down the state highway near it. I have no idea why. That wasn't my route to school from home. LOL.

As for apex predators, I spotted a coyote in front of the building directly across from ours some years back after dusk fell. For all I know, it could have been a coydog, which are even more dangerous to small prey like toddlers and outdoor cats. (There was a worrisome case of a toddler in central Jersey being stalked in his backyard by a coyote not that many years ago.) We have black bears in the woods across the street. They make the rounds of the neighborhood dumpsters because a significant percentage of the two-legged residents are slobs who leave them open. The ursines belly up to the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Occasionally catamounts are spotted in the greater New York area, probably down from the Catskills, and Adirondacks in search of mates. They used to be endemic here. There's even a "Cat Swamp Road" over in Warren County.

Methinks you dreamed of a Bengal tiger because you're a cat person. They really are magnificent. ;-)

March 27, 2019 at 10:36 AM

I just watched episode 1 and thought it a good premiere. I want to catch up with episode 2 today so won't say much on episode 1, plot-wise, as beanies have already said much of what I thought.

If anything, can I just say how thrilled I am to see Junho back on screen and with a promising project? I didn't realize I had missed him so much but I had! I feel like he excels in facial nuances. His little, and only, smile in episode 1 was adorable btw. ❤

March 27, 2019 at 7:55 PM

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I think they definitely made the right choice with him as Dohyun with his ability to convey so much with such few facial movements lol. I particularly loved his reaction in the first scene when his father refused to see him. That change from hurt to acceptance was so minute but visible.

March 27, 2019 at 3:10 PM

March 27, 2019 at 8:49 PM

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I love Junho, i think this caracter is very diferent at before, i saw the second episode and im so fucking into it.
A good drama, i mean, the case is very interesting and i love how Junho deal with it.
im waiting the 3 ep with anxiety on top.
And... is my first time that a want to hug Junho at the first episode... in the other dramas, always fall for him in the middle of the drama, but this caracter is... i dont know, but i wanna protect him and hug him!

March 27, 2019 at 11:05 PM

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After watching the first 2 episodes, I can say that I'm liking it. Many said that it gives off Forest of Secrets vibe and I agree. I just love FoS so much so when someone compared it to FoS, I knew I had to watch it. This drama has all the potential to be great but I'm also afraid they'll drag the case too long.

The synopsis of this drama mentions that Do Hyun received a heart transplant. And I wonder if that bit of information will play a part in the story. I hope they won't use his past illness as a ticking time bomb plot. Like halfway through the series his heart failed or something like that. Madame Jin is also full of mystery. I feel like she is connected to Do Hyun, either by blood or perhaps she's related to the donor of Do Hyun's heart.

Looking forward for the next episode. Hoping that the subtitles will be out quickly!

March 28, 2019 at 1:41 AM

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Thanks @faraway I didn't even think to read the synopsis. So this issue about a heart (or any organ) from someone else with an organ memory of its own might actually emerge and a thing with this show. Now I understand some of the allusions! :-)

March 28, 2019 at 12:03 AM

March 28, 2019 at 12:20 AM

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Hey beanies! This is my first time joining in on the wonderful discussions that go on here. I stumbled into kdrama world only last year and was beginning to get a little jaded with them when I found Just Between Lovers. And that was it! I literally can’t move on from JBL to the extent that I can’t watch any other drama without comparing it to and finding it falling short of that masterpiece. And I’m seriously addicted to angsty, vulnerable, fragile while fighting hard Junho. I reeeeeaallly don’t do celebrity crushes and obsessing over fictional characters, but I guess it’s true when they say never say never!

Okay, enough with the rambling ;-). Onto the matters at hand! I started watching Confession coz....Junho (*blushes*). Buuuut I have to say the show seems really interesting. Firstly, I’m not a big fan of OTT kdramas with extra loud, overly dramatic characters ( blame it on my JBL addiction), so the mellow, realistic vibe of the show is right up my alley. Also, I like subtly told stories where everything is not oversimplified and over explained to the viewer so that we can ‘get it’. I like the writing so far and the many Easter eggs hidden throughout the two episodes. Had me thinking and analysing them long after I finished watching.

I like the way the writer is teasing us with the various characters. And also the way in which he/she(?) is showing different sides of the characters- the stoic DH being all hapless around the two ladies, his exasperated yet accepting reactions to Yuri and befuddled and slightly out-of-his-depth reactions to Madam Jin, as if he is unsure of how to deal with an older and slightly pushy ahjumma. I found an interesting contrast in the fact that Madam Jin seems to bring out the ‘little boy’ softer side of the very serious DH while she is obviously putting on an overly sunny personality when she’s actually giving a seriously melancholic vibe whenever she is alone. It’ll be interesting to see her real self emerge.

On DH’s seeming nonchalance about whether JK was the real killer the first time around, I feel that he is actually deeply affected by this which is why we see him standing on the rooftop thinking about Det Ki’s words about being able to face the victim’s family. At the end of this scene he seems to spring into decisive action and pursuing the track of figuring out what happened to his mother. I think he believes, at least now if not before, that JK was indeed the killer the first time.

And here, I have a little theory (wasn’t kidding when I said the writer has got me thinking ;-) I think DH has figured out that JK might have killed his own mother too (refer the red nail he finds at JK’s mom’ s house). And by getting him to confess to the first murder, while he won’t be tried for it due to double jeopardy, Det Ki and DH will try to get him for his own mother’s murder.

So, that’s my two bits. I came to the show coz....Junho (I know, I know). But I’m staying coz once again our boy seems to...

I'm also totally invested in finding out more about all the characters who are showing they have more to them than meets the eye. The only one who seems transparent is actually Yoo Ri, but even here, we may be surprised.

Yes, to your theory about that red finger nail and Jong Gu's mother... she's disappeared, a red nail is practically embedded in the dusty floor of her house and Jong Gu won't go near this home although it's a nice, big house. Obviously not home-sweet-home to him, and might have been a 'killing ground'?

March 28, 2019 at 9:07 AM

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Thanks for the welcome @growingbeautifully! I actually did go through the entire discussion thread of JBL and that is literally the sole reason I’m here this time!! Looking forward to some interesting times together.

March 28, 2019 at 8:31 AM

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Welcome, @kdramapri Kdramaticallyecstatic! You're in good company here at Junho Fangirl/Fanboy Central. ;-)

... befuddled and slightly out-of-his-depth reactions to Madam Jin, as if he is unsure of how to deal with an older and slightly pushy ahjumma. I found an interesting contrast in the fact that Madam Jin seems to bring out the ‘little boy’ softer side of the very serious DH while she is obviously putting on an overly sunny personality when she’s actually giving a seriously melancholic vibe whenever she is alone...

I suspect that Do-hyun's mother herself is dead or missing, perhaps since he was relatively young. That might account for his not knowing how to deal with irrepressible Madame Jin. (In TEMPERATURE OF LOVE, Kim Jae-wook's character, Park Jung-woo, was stuck in the past, having lost his mother at a young age.)

Madame Jin herself is quite a cypher. I cannot even begin to fathom her motivation for coming to work at Do-hyun's office. Perhaps she has been bereaved by a killer who has not yet been brought to justice. Or maybe she knew his father in some way. I don't think she's some random fairy godmother. There has to be a payoff in it for her, and it may be of the emotional kind. Or a thirst for justice, especially if his father has been railroaded to cover up someone else's crimes. ;-)

March 28, 2019 at 10:09 AM

If JUST BETWEEN LOVERS is the first show you've seen with Junho, then you have a treat in store: CHIEF KIM aka GOOD MANAGER, in which he plays the ex-prosecutor "gluttonous psychopath" frenemy of Namgoong Min's title character. They got a "best couple" award for their joint performance. Two of my fave actors, and my intro to Junho. I never dreamed forensic accounting could be so thrilling. NGM is on a roll in currently-airing DOCTOR PRISONER. ;-)

March 28, 2019 at 9:52 PM

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Oh I’ve seen all of those. Basically if Junho is in it, I’ve seen it! Though the fact is, he’s so good not only at acting but also at picking his projects. I’ve enjoyed every single thing he’s been in including the much bashed Wok of Love, though being a kdrama newbie meant I had no Jang Hyuk baggage and so had no problems with Junho being the ML. Maybe that helped me just focus on the lovey dovey shenanigans and forwarded all the rest!!

March 28, 2019 at 11:27 AM

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I'll be happy to join in the fangirl party! I've seen JBL twice and am getting ready to watch it again with my daughter. Chief Kim is also awesome. I loved Wok of Love, too. Basically, if Junho is in it, I will watch it. But he never disappoints.

March 30, 2019 at 6:26 AM

March 28, 2019 at 12:45 AM

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I've been reading all of your comments and feeling jealous because I haven't been able to watch Confession yet. I've been driving my family crazy by constantly checking all of the sites where I usually watch dramas. I have a slight Junho obsession.

March 28, 2019 at 6:48 AM

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Can you read minds? I have also been trying to find Kill It. I loved Jang Ki Yong in Come and Hug Me. My family will be thankful, because every hour or so I look for one of these shows and become very frustrated when I can't find them. Thank you so much!

March 28, 2019 at 10:42 PM

Simply Speculation on the ending of Ep 2 ... Jong Gu gives in and admits his past crime and it is proven that the recent murder is not his doing. He walks free, but he did do what Det Ki had really wanted... he had admitted his guilt. So Det Ki being partially satisfied, decides to hangout with Do Hyun to figure out who framed JG (surely that should be the real killer(s)?) and maybe also to get JG for other crimes that have yet to come to light.

So maybe JG's question that time in prison: Are you two collaborating to get me? Will actually come to pass Heheheh!! Fingerscrossed and all that... I want me my Bromance!

March 29, 2019 at 5:15 AM

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I think the focus of the story will be about how to make Jong Gu pay for his crime, the one he got away with. Because legally speaking, it's impossible due to the law preventing double jeopardy. So it will be interesting on how our leads will try to make it happen.

About the bromance. I think it's already happening between Do Hyun and the other detective who's still working (sorry, can't remember the name). That detective seems reluctant to give any informations to Do Hyun but at the end he gave it anyway. The kind of love-hate relationship. But between Do Hyun and Det Ki, I think they will just annoy each other and still makes a great team.

March 29, 2019 at 7:14 AM

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@faraway and @neener Oh yeah, I didn't think of that detective (looked up his name: Seo Geun Pyo). He was quite reasonable with Do Hyun. I like their dynamics, but I'm wanting to see Det Ki cooperate with DH rather than continually regard him as the one who made a mistake and therefore as the one who has to right the wrong. :-)

March 29, 2019 at 1:49 PM

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i think i'm just so confused i dont even remember what happened the last episode (it's so good but i am now ???) but that creepy man...he's a serial killer i suppose???? but he doesnt have the same pattern IDK what im talking abt

March 29, 2019 at 2:25 PM

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@growingbeautifully,
Lol I will go right to the bromance question. I really don't see one developing between Attorney Choi and Det. Ki. Among other things I think there is too much of an age difference.
How do I put this? My personal take only. Both actors look different than their actual age. Junho (true about many Asian/Korean men) to me as Attorney Choi looks younger than his actual age of 29. On the other hand Yoo Jae-myung as Det. Ki looks older than his actual age of 45. This is not the first part for YJM where he is playing a part that looks older than his actual age imho.
I almost don't recognize YJM in the header above.

March 29, 2019 at 6:27 PM

YJM definitely looks much older, drained and somewhat dispassionate in the shot above. He is also haunted by the killer that got away and has bitten down like a crocodile who won't let go, even 5 years later.

I was wishing that he'd put aside his animosity and consider that Do Hyun could do with a bit of mentoring. He has seen that Do Hyun has principles and will hopefully find that they have the same goal in stopping the killer they know from striking again.

In the process of working this out, if Do Hyun's father's case could somehow become questionable, then there might be a chance for the 2 of them to work on overturning the death penalty ruling as a gross injustice.

This is my wishful thinking at this stage and based on the cliche that most people and events are somewhat linked in a kdrama. :-D

March 29, 2019 at 10:40 PM

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I don't think he feels particularly animosity towards Do Hyun, perhaps frustration, disappointment, and a bit of dislike. I got this feeling because (to my surprise) he confronted the ex-bf about committing perjury and lying in court which put Do Hyun in a pickle, would've pushed Do Hyun closer to taking Det Ki's deal and he could've just left it alone. He seems to be very righteous no matter what, and I feel like despite their differences their respect for each other will develop and grow.

March 29, 2019 at 8:39 AM

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I was looking up our Yoo Ri (Shin Hyun Bin) on Asianwiki and was startled to see that she 'was supposed to have' appeared in JBL / Rain or Shine as the architect in Episode 16. I went to watch again but I really, really do not believe that she's the same actress!!! The face is different, the voice too. As the architect (time counter says 1:05:20) her voice is low and her mouth looks different. As Yoo Ri her pitch is higher. I have to stare at her long and hard. I'm still not convinced!! Maybe the name is the same but they are 2 different people?

March 29, 2019 at 10:05 AM

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Haha. I rewatched some parts of JBL when the cast for this drama was announced. She is perhaps very versatile. I confess, even when I heard about the cast confirmations and saw script reading, I thought she would be a very uptight and cold character. Then the teasers happened and she chopped off her hair and dyed it. I was like, Wow! What a transformation. Her character and "rom-com" acting as some have called it might have to do with the script as well as by the direction of the director.

Yoo-ri is not very well-liked by some drama watchers right now and hopefully that changes as we learn more about her.

March 29, 2019 at 2:27 PM

Actress Shin Hyun-bin really is a chameleon. Wow! I didn't recall her character from JUST BETWEEN LOVERS, but I remembered the scene when I rewatched it just now.

Perhaps reporter Yoo-ri's inebriated antics are not her normal behavior, but are indicative of her being stressed out of her gourd. I'm willing to cut her some slack. I just cannot abide the overused drunken shenanigans trope. (But maybe that was the quickest way for Writer-nim to also introduce Madame Jin and lay out the dynamics between Do-hyun and his team?)

March 29, 2019 at 6:07 PM

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I'm finding inebriation a ploy used to bring characters into homes/private spaces and then giving them carte blanche to stay over and abuse friendships. It would never happen in my real life for me. I'd call the cops if a drunk tried to invite himself into my home!!!

I do not dislike Yoo Ri entirely, as I sense her purpose in the show, and she seems to be at a loss without a job. We just need lots more info about her life other than that she seems to have only 1 friend she can take advantage of and that she's brazen enough to do it big time.

I'm hoping she may at least have the investigative prowess of Chae Young Shin in Healer who finagled her way into a celebrity's home. Still it's good to see that she will turn out probably very helpful to Do Hyun.

I still cannot believe it's the same actress. Even her face shape looked different from the different angles.

March 29, 2019 at 7:08 PM

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Before the next episode that might turn the case around, just wanted to show a little appreciation for the actor that plays Han Jong-gu (Ryu Gyeong Su). I don't think he's the big villain of the show and may even disappear later in the series depending on how it pans out, but his character is layered and he pulls it off well. He's doing such a great job switching between vulnerable, entitled, and psycho. The scenes between him and Do Hyun are very well done and charged. The drama seems to be leading us to believe that he is pure evil and a hidden monster, and yet at times also shows very human parts of him.

March 29, 2019 at 8:49 PM

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Interesting because I looked up his Asianwiki entry today. It is under Ryoo Kyung-Soo. This is only his second drama. He is reminding me of Dong Ha’s well received performance as psycho Jung Hyun-soo in SUSPICIOUS PARTNER.

March 30, 2019 at 10:57 AM

March 30, 2019 at 1:19 PM

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I suspect that it will be revealed that killer Han Jong-gu had been badly abused by his mother, which sent him over the edge. But not all victims of abuse become murderers. I agree that Ryu Gyeong-su is doing a nice job of revealing the killer's damaged soul.

I believe some of us must have seen this already and I don't normally bother to read up about a show, but I found this article that gives a tiny bit of info about the 4 main characters.

They have each suffered a loss and discover that things are not what they thought, and start to investigate. It also mentions that the real killer whose crime Do Hyun's father has been indicted for reappears. That's more info than I ever got so far!

March 30, 2019 at 7:00 AM

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I'm glad you're so on top of this and getting the discussion going.

I just finished streaming ep 3 RAW (I need subs to understand, so basically I'm just spoiling it for myself and admiring the acting, lol). I won't spoil it for you, but omg it was really something! New characters and links introduced that I bet will spin this story on its head. This is a kdrama indeed.

March 30, 2019 at 8:19 AM

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I think I caught an unsubbed clip and I'm guessing what it was DH and JG were saying to each other, and it was so ironical!! Question emerges, how did it come about that DH was assigned to be JG's lawyer? Some great behind the scenes machinations?